CHAPTER 10: EXPERIMENT FAILED

"Gentlemen, have a seat, please!" John said to the two of them.

The two exchanged glances and sat down on the chairs in front of them, ready to listen to John's instructions. John began speaking in English, his tone serious and firm, while the translator next to him started translating his words into Chinese.

Mr. John's words were full of appreciation and respect for Wang Haiyun and Li Ming. He first expressed deep gratitude for their efforts in Qingshi Town, and then reminded them to remain vigilant in the upcoming tasks to ensure their safety. He emphasized, above all, that life was the most important thing at any time.

Next, John discussed the current status of the project. He informed Wang Haiyun that the project had been in a stagnant phase due to insufficient parameters for creating the black hole. However, information obtained by IAC indicated that the ancient humans of the pre-diluvian Sumerian civilization had not been successful in creating a black hole. Nonetheless, the clues discovered by Wang Haiyun and his team in Sichuan proved that a black hole had indeed been generated there. All the evidence pointed to the Sanxingdui ancient civilization. He invited everyone to the secret base in Shanghai for two main reasons. First, he wanted the experts to witness the super helium-3's ability to drive the black hole, and second, he brought the latest and more powerful generation of chips to help Jiang Bo with new experiments. As for Wang Haiyun and Li Ming, John believed they were key players.

"You guys are keys," John said deliberately.

John hoped that they would continue their on-site exploration to find new clues that could connect the entire historical process and unravel the mystery of the black hole's occurrence during the ancient period in Sichuan. He always believed that to recreate an artifact, they must first find the valuable experience left behind from previous successful creations. And this experience was the legend of the divine bird in Sanxingdui, successfully creating and controlling the black hole. He handed them some materials, including a very ancient map-like document. Its outline was different from the modern world, with some coordinates-like markings. The map looked as if it were hand-drawn, but it was also exquisitely detailed, with annotations written in unreadable text throughout. John mentioned that the map came from an accidental find by an IAC Dubai branch during one of their missions. The text on it had yet to be deciphered, and even using AI tools would require a source document. There were some circular symbols on the map that resembled Sanxingdui's symbols. John hoped they would return to Sichuan as soon as possible to search for clues, and IAC would provide full assistance.

During the conversation, the door outside opened, and Yan Tian walked in, saying to John, "Mr. John, the discussion outside has ended, and we are ready to move on to the next phase, showcasing the newly found helium-3 energy for black hole creation. The new chips have also been installed, and I believe their enhanced computational power will bring significant changes."

When the translator conveyed this message to John, he immediately stood up and walked straight out. As he passed by Wang Haiyun, he winked and patted his shoulder. The others followed suit.

John's words weighed heavily on Wang Haiyun and Li Ming. They both hoped for success in the upcoming mission, to find information about the underground entrance, but they also felt puzzled about IAC's purpose in opening the black hole. Was the ultimate truth really about interstellar travel?

They recalled Dr. Hu's speech. In their minds, they couldn't help but imagine what the future of humanity would be if they truly unlocked the secrets of the black hole.

They envisioned a future where people could use the power of black holes to create wormholes, enabling them to explore every corner of the universe. Perhaps, human civilization could spread across the cosmos, becoming true citizens of the universe.

With such thoughts in mind, they felt a sense of anticipation and excitement about the upcoming mission.

In the exhibition hall outside the laboratory, everyone was in position. Wang Haiyun looked up at John, who still sat upright with his hands resting on the chair, seemingly emitting an air of mystery from his blue eyes, resembling an aristocratic-style elder vampire.

Jiang Bo was already waiting in the laboratory. All the equipment was ready, and the LED screens around them displayed the computing index, densely packed and powerful like a beehive. Data cables connected one computer to another, humming, and the strong aura of technology made them feel as if they had entered another world.

"Everyone, what I am about to demonstrate is the latest black hole model driven by 100 ml of liquid helium-3." Jiang Bo explained to everyone with a steady yet proud tone. He gestured to his assistant to open a safety barrier on the central console, revealing a transparent sealed container inside, where the helium-3 sparkled under dim lights.

He began to elaborate on his theory and experimental setup, including the new generation of super chips, the core of this experiment. They possessed astonishing computational power and could precisely simulate and control the behavior of the black hole.

Jiang Bo stood in front of the instrument panel, his figure casting flickering silhouettes on the glowing screens. He gazed at the vial of helium-3, containing immense power, with a mix of nervousness and anticipation. Here, he was about to unveil the beginning of humanity's exploration of black holes.

The atmosphere in the exhibition area was particularly solemn. Every scientist in the laboratory held their breath, watching Jiang Bo and his assistants carefully place the helium-3 into the high-precision energy converter. The air seemed to be filled with a moist electric smell.

Next came the algorithm input process. The super chip personally brought by Mr. John was the key to this experiment, with its powerful computational ability. It would provide precise control parameters for the energy conversion of the minuscule amount of helium-3, continuously monitoring and adjusting the formation process of the black hole model in real-time. Importantly, it could control the development of the black hole by regulating the input and reducing the energy at critical moments.

Jiang Bo put on gloves, took a deep breath, and his fingers danced on the keyboard, complex codes and algorithms flickering on the screen. Each of his movements showed high focus and determination.

When the input was completed, Jiang Bo looked towards Mr. John, who nodded, giving the signal to begin. Jiang Bo then pressed the activation button, and the lights in the entire laboratory dimmed instantly, leaving only a faint blue glow emanating from the central equipment, indicating that the helium-3 had started releasing energy.

All eyes were fixed on that point of blue light. In an instant, the glow expanded, forming a small rotating halo. As it spun faster and faster, a black dot appeared in the center and gradually expanded. With Jiang Bo's actions, the data charts on the screen began to fluctuate wildly, displaying various parameters of the black hole model, such as temperature, pressure, and energy, all within the expected range. The black hole model seemed to be stabilizing, creating a tense and excited atmosphere in the entire laboratory. People held their breath, waiting for the birth of the new black hole model.

Finally, after several minutes of anxious waiting, the black hole model began to form, with every data point within the expected range. The experiment looked highly successful. Jiang Bo's face broke into a proud and satisfied smile.

The black hole wasn't large, but it seemed like a living being, capturing everyone's attention and leaving them breathless. Its existence seemed to transcend the boundaries of time and space, igniting endless imaginations. The blue halo kept flickering, resembling a bright pearl in the depths of the ocean, radiating a faint light.

However, at this very moment, John stood up and said, "Try increasing the energy output and see if this black hole model can expand and run more steadily." His eyes shimmered with irresistible determination and anticipation.

Despite some concerns, Jiang Bo nodded and began adjusting a series of parameters, preparing to increase the energy output of the helium-3. However, just then, the alarms suddenly sounded in the laboratory.

Then, taking a deep breath, he put on specially designed gloves and carefully took out a miniature helium-3 energy unit from the container, adding it to the energy grid. He then began inputting complex commands, initiating the super chip to calculate and drive the black hole's changes with the new dosage.

At this moment, multiple monitoring screens popped up with different warning messages, and the alarms continued to blare. Jiang Bo signaled everyone to ignore them and proceed with the experiment. The atmosphere in the entire laboratory suddenly became tense, and all eyes were fixated on the black hole model. It began to vibrate and appeared unstable. A golden halo emerged on the outer layer of the black hole, growing brighter and brighter, almost too intense to look at. The parameter readings on the data screen suddenly started fluctuating wildly, indicating that the black hole's state was undergoing severe changes.

Then, the golden-glowing black hole model suddenly turned pitch black, as if it had swallowed all the light, and the surrounding space seemed to distort, generating a gravitational force from this dark abyss. Objects around it started undergoing subtle changes, as if being attracted towards the center of the black hole. Under the influence of the black hole's attraction, everything became chaotic.

Seeing the laboratory environment rapidly deteriorating in an unforeseen direction, panic and despair gripped everyone. Each person present felt a profound sense of powerlessness and dread. John stared at the black hole, his face turning pale, his eyes showing a fear he had never seen before. People began trying to shut down the black hole, and some even attempted to escape the laboratory. Everyone's gaze was drawn to this black abyss, as if it were the center of the world.

Jiang Bo desperately tried to re-enter commands to control the black hole, but it was too late. In the relentless hum of the black hole, he kept adjusting parameters, attempting to restore stability. The people around him were drawn to this powerful black hole, and no one noticed this man desperately fighting against it.

However, at this moment of desperation, suddenly, a bright light illuminated the laboratory. The gravitational pull of the black hole ceased, as if suppressed by some force. All the noise and chaos stopped at this moment, leaving only the sound of terrified breaths.

Everyone froze, including John. They watched as this once uncontrollable black hole now quieted before their eyes, like a ferocious beast that had just roared but now became docile.

Although the black hole had temporarily calmed down, it still existed. The moment of tranquility passed, and it seemed as if the black hole had awakened, once again drawing everything in with madness. The console's screens shattered instantly, shards flying everywhere. Jiang Bo was cut by sharp glass pieces, and his blood dripped from his arm, staining his white lab coat.

Everyone stood in shock, stunned by the sudden turn of events. Yan Tian, who was outside the laboratory, was the first to react. He looked at Jiang Bo's arm with extreme fear written on his face.

"Jiang Bo!" Yan Tian yelled, but his voice seemed to be swallowed mercilessly by the black hole. People around him rushed towards Jiang Bo, hoping to help him, but the black hole's gravitational pull grew stronger, and the people in the laboratory searched for things to hold onto to avoid being sucked in.

Jiang Bo, a usually low-key man, displayed unimaginable resilience at this desperate moment. He looked at his own arm, enduring the pain, and tightly grasped the console, attempting to prevent everyone from being pulled into the black hole.

The blood on his arm spread gradually, flowing between his fingers and dripping onto the floor. Each drop of blood felt like a sharp stab in his heart, causing him unbearable pain.

"I... I can't give up..." Jiang Bo gritted his teeth, enduring the pain, and made his way laboriously towards the helium-3 placement point. His eyes shimmered with unwavering determination. The blood on his arm continued to increase.

It was a terrifying sight, as human technology appeared so fragile at this moment, and human pride seemed so powerless.

Outside the laboratory, chaos ensued, and John's face looked even paler as he stared at the floor in silence. Was he contemplating the failure of this experiment, perhaps signaling the failure of their entire plan?

Suddenly, another loud noise shattered the chaos in the laboratory. A powerful energy shockwave knocked down people around, causing all the equipment in the lab to stop functioning. The data charts on the computer screens plummeted as if nothing had happened moments ago. It turned out that Jiang Bo accidentally knocked over the conveyor belt that was transporting helium-3 to the main equipment, and he was also thrown several meters away by the powerful shockwave.

After the incident, the laboratory was completely devastated. The black hole had disappeared, leaving behind only a mess. The ceiling and walls were severely damaged by the impact, the console and experimental equipment were in ruins, and fragments of various instruments scattered on the ground, filling the air with a pungent smell of smoke and dust.

Jiang Bo suffered serious injuries and was taken to the base's medical room for treatment. He looked at his blood-stained hands with an empty and complicated expression on his face. He knew that this accident could deal a devastating blow to the entire project, and he realized that he might bear a significant responsibility for it.

Immediately after the accident, IAC organized a team to conduct a thorough investigation. After working through the night, they found that the cause of the accident might be a mistake in the formula for controlling the stability of the black hole model. John had someone take out the formula used to calculate the energy input of the black hole and let the team carefully examine it line by line.

"Here..." one of Jiang Bo's assistants pointed to a line in the formula, frowning as he looked at it, "It seems that there's an issue with the calculation here. We misunderstood the true nature of the black hole, thinking that increasing energy would enhance its stability. But in reality, it only accelerated the increase in energy of the black hole, ignoring the maximum pressure that the lab itself could withstand."

The team members all turned to look at John, their faces displaying surprise and regret. They knew that this mistake could come at a great cost and might even significantly damage IAC's reputation. Such a major incident might attract attention from local authorities and bring significant risks.

In the days following the accident, everyone lived in a tense atmosphere. Jiang Bo bore the enormous pressure alone as he kept trying to figure out where the problem occurred, searching for the cause of the formula error.

This accident also made everyone realize the mystery and danger of black holes more deeply, and they became more aware that the exploration of black holes could come at an unbearable cost for humanity. After this, IAC's work would be more cautious, and they would show more respect for nature and the secrets of the universe.

"Black holes are terrifying, damn it..." Li Ming shook his head, his face filled with regret. "I thought they were going to succeed this time, but it seems we still know too little about black holes."

Wang Haiyun nodded, "Yes, the study of black holes is full of unknowns and dangers, but we can only keep exploring. Failure is an inevitable process. We need to find those missing clues, which might help us better understand black holes and avoid such accidents again."

After saying that, they looked at the map in their hands again. The mysterious symbols and coordinates seemed to tell a tale of ancient history. They knew that the previous exploration had not completely unraveled the mysteries and that this new map would be even more challenging. It was a daunting task.

The next day, they packed their belongings and prepared to return to Sichuan. As they left Shanghai, they once again looked at the scientific research building—it was their starting point and their challenge. They had a responsibility, and they had a belief. They were determined to find those missing clues and unlock the mysteries.

At the airport, they saw a familiar figure seemingly waiting for them.

"Master Kunpeng, how come we meet again?" Wang Haiyun said.

"I specifically waited here for you. I have already learned about the incident at the lab; my assistant was present. It's unfortunate that the experiment didn't succeed. We need more information from ancient relics to change our approach," Kunpeng said.

"Master, you are really clever. I still wonder if you found that dead dragon?" Li Ming asked Kunpeng.

"The dragon's matter, I will tell you on the plane. I heard that you got the original ancient map. I have some copies of it. I had requested to see it from IAC, but it didn't work out," Kunpeng said, looking envious.

"It's in our hands. This map is quite strange; many places differ from the real world, and we don't recognize the writing. Could it be a map of the underground world?" Wang Haiyun asked.

"It's not a map of the underground world; it's a global view. This is an ancient world map, and some places have undergone changes in topography. The writing on it is the long-lost Cord Script," Kunpeng explained.

"Cord Script?" Wang Haiyun and Li Ming said in unison.